NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Red Sox addressed their top priority when they reached an agreement with Mike Napoli. There was a dearth of quality free agent first basemen on the market, and even fewer who wouldn’t require the team that signed them to sacrifice a draft pick as compensation. Now, with Napoli on board, the Sox’ other area of positional need should feature very different rules of engagement.

Even as the center fielders are coming off the board, with B.J. Upton having signed, Denard Span having been traded by the Twins and Angel Pagan reportedly nearing a return to the Giants, there remain a number of free agent and trade options in the outfield market. Josh Hamilton is there for the taking. So is Nick Swisher. So is Shane Victorino. And Cody Ross. And Ryan Ludwick. The Diamondbacks continue to be open to a deal involving Justin Upton. The Indians are dangling Shin-Soo Choo. And on… and on.

With Napoli on board, the Sox now feature a roster that is deeeeeep in right-handed hitters. Napoli joins Dustin Pedroia, Will Middlebrooks, David Ross, Jonny Gomes and potentially Jose Iglesias among the team’s right-handed options. The team does hope to achieve a measure of balance, finding some left-handed options (or switch-hitters) to complement what it’s already assembled. The team also would like to find a strong defensive right fielder (essentially, someone who is capable of playing center but with the arm for right). Read the rest of this entry »

In his last outing, the 28-year-old threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs in a 6-3 loss to the Rangers. Lester (5-10, 5.36) is on a two-game losing streak. The Red Sox have lost six of his last seven starts.

Boston defeated the Yankees when Lester pitched six innings and allowed four runs in late July. The lefty has not won a start since June 27, when the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays 10-4. Lester pitched seven innings of four-run baseball in that game.

Lester hasn’t pitched against the Indians since May 25, when he allowed zero runs through six innings in a Red Sox victory.

Corey Kluber, who will be starting for the Indians, has never faced the Red Sox in his career. In two years in the majors, Kluber (0-0, 6.10) has pitched in five games. He has started twice in his career, both times this season.

Both of Kluber’s starts ended in losses. In his last outing, the 26-year-old allowed one earned run in six innings as the Indians lost to Minnesota. In his first start of the season, on Aug. 2, Kluber allowed six runs through 4 1/3 innings to the Royals. Read the rest of this entry »

Speaking with Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, Indians general manager ChrisAntonetti said: ‘We’re open in any way we can to improve the team, whatever that might be. Especially with [Shin-Soo] Choo suffering the injury that he suffered, we’ll probably focus most of our efforts on improving our offense and getting a little more consistency there.’

Antonetti also noted how difficult it is to project how a player from an outside organization will work out after a deal is made.

‘It’s so hard to put percentages on external acquisitions because there are so many variables in play,’ Antonetti said. ‘The benefit that we have with our internal options is we control those unilaterally, which guys we bring up, provided they’re healthy. Externally, so many things have to come together.’